Plans for a new visitor centre and to increase the number of car parking spaces at Haldon Forest have been approved.

The Forestry Commission wanted to redevelop the site at Haldon Forest Park to ensure that the visitor facilities are fit for purpose, safe to use, sustainable, and attract a wide range of visitors.

Teignbridge District Council planners under delegated powers have approved the scheme for a new visitor centre, relocating the operations area, upgrading the existing café, and increasing the number of car parking spaces from 378 to 570.

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The application had said: “The considerable increase in visitors to the park, around 450,000 people a year, has come at a cost. Many visitors arrive by car and this is an increasing problem that needs to be addressed. The site is unique to the local area and is valued by its visitors, and the improvements to the facilities, visitor flow, orientation, visitor information and parking provision will raise the quality of the visitor experience.

“The main goal of the redevelopment is not to hugely increase visitor numbers or to create new attractions, but to safeguard existing business for the future and to focus on target markers to maximize use through the year.

“Overall improvements to the economic resilience of the site will encourage and support existing businesses on site, enabling them to grow, while providing opportunity for new local businesses, as well as increasing employment potential for local people.

“The proposal will continue to provide the activities and amenities that currently exist on site, and the purpose of the application is to improve the visitor experience by offering these uses in a more coherent and fit for purpose manner.”

The building would consist of cycle hire, a retail outlet, women’s changing rooms and WC, men’s changing rooms and WC, an accessible WC and office and front desk, a welfare room and self-service information point.

The existing car park would be extended to the west and the north, incorporating the existing car parking for the Forestry Commission Offices and extending the car parking provision in this area.

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Concerns had been raised visitors may park vehicles on the junctions and verges outside of the designated parking areas to avoid the cost of the parking within the site, causing obstruction to traffic, so Devon County Council’s Highways Authority have recommend a Clearway Order along the stretch of road leading to the site.

Under the proposals, the operational area will be moved to a more discreet location away from the busy visitor area where it was considered unattractive and out of keeping with the natural setting of the site.

The report of planning officers said: “The proposed development is considered to represent an appropriate form of development.”